James N Hawley

James “Jim” Norman Hawley passed away February 3, 2020 after a long illness. He was born in 1937 to George and Muriel Hawley in Eugene, Oregon. The family moved to Waldport. After setting a new track record at the state tournament, he graduated from Waldport High School in 1956. While in high school he excelled in track and basketball, and he was one of the first to be inducted into the Waldport Sports Hall of Fame. He went to Linfield College in McMinnville where he received a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education. He met his wife Nancy at Linfield and they were married in 1961. They had two sons, Dennis and Jeffrey.

Jim taught and coached at Taft High School before transferring to Newport High School to teach a class to high school seniors called Modern Problems. He was their class advisor. He loved his Seniors! During this time, the County Board of Commissioners asked Jim if he would volunteer as the Director of Emergency Services. In 1975, with the help of the person who would be his assistant for 38 years Mary Metcalf established the Lincoln County Department of Emergency Services. Although he worked with the Board, he was also a sworn special deputy. He organized the Lincoln County Search and Rescue Team under Sheriff Hockema in 1975 and wrote the bids for a totally new radio system for all the law enforcement agencies Benton and Lincoln County.

Although a quiet man, Jim touched many citizens in the state. He was state president of the Oregon Emergency Management Association and State President of the Association of Public Communication Officers for all police and 911 dispatchers. He was on the Board of Directors for the Lincoln County Foundation.

In 1966 Jim received the Newport Distinguished Service Award and in 1967, because of his work with students and belief of strong community preparedness, he was selected as one of the 10 Outstanding Young Men in Oregon. He served as Grand Marshall of the Newport Loyalty Days Parade and was inducted into the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Hall of Fame.

At the age of 15, Jim received his amateur radio license (call sign W7VTW) and was a member of the Lincoln County Auxiliary Communications Service. After retiring from county he was asked to be member of the Newport Police Volunteers. He was a bailiff for municipal court and set up the radio communications in their emergency van.

Jim was a member of the Newport Elks and a member of the Newport Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his wife Nancy; sons Dennis (Marla) of Newport and Jeffrey (Victoria) of Godmanchester in England; grandchildren Tyler and Trevor of Newport, and Kieran, Abigail, Joseph and William in England; his siblings Mary Doyle of Redmond, Oregon and Donald (Peggy) Hawley of Sacramento, California.

At his request there will not be any services. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a local Newport based Charity or to the First Presbyterian Church, 227 NE 12th St, Newport, OR 97365.

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